Baccarat, the Casino Game with the Lowest House Edge

Baccarat and the Lowest House Edge

Playing baccarat can be one of the smartest gambling decisions you will ever make. Of all standard casino games, baccarat has the lowest house edge. A game's house edge is the percentage of wagers kept by the casino as that game is played. It is how the casino makes money. In baccarat, the house edge is so low that you can almost break even in the long run, and even make money if you get lucky.

Some may argue that some games like Deuces Wild video poker have a positive expectation (negative house edge) and thus are more profitable. But you have to spend a long time mastering these games before you can make money. In contrast, baccarat is effortless to play.

Rich Man's Sport?

Baccarat has long been the game of choice of high rollers. In the movies, James Bond has been seen playing this game. In real life, celebrities play baccarat in off-limit high-stake tables.

All this has contributed to baccarat's image as a rich man's sport. Many gamblers of average social stature shun it for this reason. This is unfortunate since baccarat has among the very best odds in the casino. When these favorable odds are compounded with the fact that baccarat is so damnably easy to play, it can be argued that bacarat is the best game to play in the casino.

Overview of Baccarat Rules

This article will not go into details regarding baccarat rules. You only need to know a few things. Baccarat is a card game and it takes its name from an Italian word for "zero." In standard high-stakes baccarat, players take turns dealing the cards from a shoe. In mini-baccarat for low rollers, it is the dealer who gives the cards so more hands are played per hour.

Cards are dealt to two sides nominally called "Banker" and "Player," neither of which represents the human players who are actually betting. The side with a score closest to 9 wins (this is where the Lucky 9 game comes from). Players just choose on which of the sides is going to win; they do not participate in the game except when betting. The dealer takes care of the scoring and your only concern is which side wins. So in baccarat, you are really just a bettor, not a player.

Betting in Baccarat

There are only three kinds of wagers you can make in baccarat:

- You can bet on the Banker to win
- You can bet on the Player to win
- You can bet on a tie between the two sides

Based on the house edge for each bet, you should ALWAYS bet on the Banker.

Don't let baccarat's classy reputation turn you off. It is actually one of the most affordable games if you know how to do it. Play in full tables so play will be slower. Then you will feel the benefits of the low house edge in baccarat.

House Edge in Baccarat

Note that a bet on the Banker carries a commission for the house. Here it is assumed to be 5%. The payback percentage is what the players as a whole get over the long term, and it is the remainder after the house edge is taken.